A kind of contentious reasoning that seeks to appear
victorious in disputation, without regard for
truth. It is distinguished from sophistic because it is not concerned with appearing wise, only with seeming
victorious in disputation.
The following are some well-known eristic arguments
taken from Aristotle's On Sophistical Refutations.
Eristic argument 1. There is sight of what is seen. The pillar is seen. Therefore, the pillar has sight.
Eristic argument 2. Whatever you profess-to-be, that you profess-to-be. You profess a
stone to-be. Therefore, you profess-to-be a
stone.